Grand Canyon, Ariz. - At approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report from a commercial river trip of a fatality at river mile 74 on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park.
According to one of the trip guides who reported the incident via satellite phone, the group had gone on a side trip, a hike up the Tabernacle Route, located in the vicinity of Upper Rattlesnake and river mile 74. During the hike, a woman in her 70s lost her footing and fell approximately 100 - 140 feet suffering fatal head trauma.
Park Rangers responded via helicopter to the scene, began initial investigations into the incident and packaged the body for transport.
The body was flown via helicopter to the South Rim where it was met by the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
The National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the incident.
No further information is available at this time.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
